Folding scissors



' April 23, 1940. c, KLOPFER FOLDING SCISSORS Filed June 28, 1937 3 W0 c/whoo C/aarZe-s it 21 Zogfer Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding scissors, the object being to provide a pair of scissors so constructed that they can be folded in order to protect the blades of the scissors to prevent a person being injured in carrying the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pair of folding scissors which are especially adapted to be used for pocket scissors whereby the same can be readily placed in the pocket, the same being so constructed that they occupy a very small space when folded and yet maintain a sufficient length of blade for cutting purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding the blades in folded position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved construction of scissors with the blades in closed position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the blades in folded position so as to protect the points and cutting edges thereof;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the scissors in folded position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-45 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of my invention as herein shown, I employ a pair of bowed blades 1 and 2 having cutting edges l and 2, said blades being pivotally connected together, preferably by a 0 screw 3. The blades are provided with flat shanks t and 5 extending at an angle therefrom as clearly shown, which shanks terminate in enlarged grooved portions 6 and 1 adapted to receive the end portions of the blades when the 45 blades are folded.

The enlarged portions are provided with integral ofiset bows 8 and 9 to receive the fingers in the usual manner in operating the scissors and to facilitate the opening of the scissors when fold- 50 ed as will be hereinafter fully described.

The enlarged portions 6 and l are provided with grooves, the outer walls thereof having overhanging resilient portions IO and H which are adapted to yield as the blades are forced into 55 position within the grooves when the scissors are being folded so as to lock the blades in folded position. The inherent resiliency of the overhanging portions allows these portions to yield as the beveled portions of the blades are brought into engagement therewith so as to frictionally '6 engage the blades when moved into position within the grooves so as to hold the scissors in folded position.

As the scissors are formed of steel which is inherently flexible, it is only necessary to turn the edges of the grooves in to form the overhang ing portions so that when the beveled portions of the blades are forced into the grooves, these overhanging portions yield and allow the blades to pass into the groove and to be held therein. 15

In order to release the blades from within the grooves, it is only necessary for the person to place a finger through each of the bows and push on the shanks at the pivot point which causes the overhanging portions to yield and allow the 20 blades to be removed therefrom.

The shanks 4 and 5 of the blades have a greater width than the blades so that the cutting edges l and 2 of the blades lie to the rear of the edges of the shank when folded in order to protect the 25 cutting edges of the blades and prevent the same from becoming dull when coming in contact with a foreign object. o

By constructing the blades with angularly disposed shanks I am able to form a pair of scissors 30 with blades of greater length without increasing the length of the scissors when folded.

In the construction of scissors as herein shown, the enlarged portions of the shanks form parts of the bows and by having these enlarged portions 86 grooved, the points of the scissors are thoroughly protected and the construction of locking means is such that the points will not be accidentally displaced from the grooves as it is necessary to spring the overhanging portions in order to move the same from the grooves and as the scissors are preferably formed of steel which is resilient, when the blades are forced into the groove, the resilient portions yield to allow the blades to pass into the groove and to be held therein by the overhanging portions.

It will be noted that the projections of the grooves are disposed on the opposite sides of the actual cutting edges of the scissors so as to prevent the cutting edges of the scissors from being dulled when being moved into and out of folded position.

By constructing a pair of scissors in this manner, I am. able to manufacture the same very cheaply and yet provide a pair of folding scissors 66 which can be quickly folded and will be positively held in folded position without the use of additional locking means such as springs and the like as I utilize the resiliency of the steel from which the scissors are made to provide resilient overhanging portions for engaging the blades and holding the same in folded position.

In the construction of scissors as herein shown and described, I have provided a flexible projection on each of the shanks to engage the blades when in folded position, but it is, of course, understood that I do not wish to limit myself to forming each of the grooved enlarged portionswith an overhanging resilient portion as I am aware that one overhanging portion would be suificient to hold the blades in folded position.

In the construction of folding scissors as herein shown, I provide bowed blades with straight shanks having flat contacting inner faces, the fiat faces of the shanks being flush with the straight walls of the groove. The outer faces of the blades and shanks are rounded or beveled to allow the'blades to ride over the yielding projection or overhanging portions of the groove in folding and opening the scissors.

As the scissors are formed of steel or analogous material which is inherently resilient, the bowed blades yield or straighten out to a certain extent when brought into engagement with the inclined face of the projection as the blades ride over the same and as they pass over the high point and pass below the same, the blades return to their normal position so as to hold the blades in position within the grooves under spring tension created by the bowed blades and I have found in practice when the blades strike the projection in folding, there is a slight twisting of the blade which facilitates the positioning of the blades within the groove and the removal therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in the fastening of the scissors into folding position and in the unfolding of the scissors I utilize the inherent resiliency of the scissors in three ways, namely, the resiliency of the projection and the flexing and twisting of the blade whereby I am able to manufacture a pair of scissors of only three parts.

The scissors as now being manufactured have bowed blades and as the scissors are formed of steel which is inherently resilient, not only the blades but the shanks twist and flex as the blades are being folded into folded position and moved into position to be used as scissors whereby I am able to manufacture a pair of scissors very cheaply as I use the inherent resiliency oi the complete scissors to form locking means for the blades when in folded position thereby dispensing with the use of any auxiliary locking means and I have found in practice that when the scissors are folded the resiliency of the material from which they are formed has a tendency to hold the scissors in folded position under spring tension in such a manner that it is almost impossible to open the scissors by rough handling such as dropping the same and the like as it is necessary to twist and spring the shanks in opening the scissors.

What I claim is:

A pair of folding scissors comprising a pair of blades pivotally connected together having integral shanks extending therefrom terminating in groove portions adapted to receive the pointed end portions of the blades when folded, integral bows projecting from said grooved portion, the outer wall of the grooved portion being provided with an integral inwardly extending projection over which the blade is adapted to ride and be engaged thereby to hold the blade parallel with the shanks in folded position so as to protect the entire cutting edges of the blades.

CHAS. E. KLOPFER. 

